Shelf Awareness--Parachutes

YA Review: Parachutes

Parachutes by Kelly Yang (Katherine Tegen Books, 496p., ages 14-up, 9780062941084, May 26, 2020)

In this noteworthy, immensely enjoyable novel, Kelly Yang (Front Desk) tackles some of the systemic inequalities that foster racism, misogyny and sexual assault. She convincingly brings to light ways in which victims are often judged more harshly than their aggressors, but also provides a template for change.

As an 11th grader in Shanghai, Claire insists she will support herself rather than rely on a husband. "I have a brain, remember," she snaps at her mom, but her rich family insists that she find a worthy husband: "A Fortune 500 CEO perhaps. Or a second-generation scion." To ensure she gets into a good college, Claire's Chinese tutor provides answers to homework assignments and essay tests, which makes her feel "as though [she's] not capable of producing [her] own thoughts." When Claire writes her own paper, however, she scores such low grades that her concerned parents send her to finish high school in America. Just like that, she's a "parachute," a kid from China who goes to the U.S. without her parents.

Dani is a scholarship student at American Prep, the same school Claire now attends. Dani's a powerhouse on the debate team and a favorite of her coach, Mr. Connelly. Dani's entire college admissions strategy hinges on qualifying for an upcoming debate that all the top coaches, including one from dream school Yale, will be attending. Dani works hard outside of school, too--like her single mom, Dani's employed as a maid and the pair still barely make ends meet. Out of desperation, Dani's mom decides to rent out their spare bedroom to Claire, "a nice girl from China."

The two girls immediately clash: to Dani, Claire seems horribly spoiled, while Claire can't understand Dani's apparent hostility. As Claire navigates her new school, she begins dating Jay, a boy who fits her family's high standards, but she is taken aback by the 129 girls on his phone and the ways he describes other young women: "bubble butt," "button nose," "dimple cheeks." When Jay goes too far, Claire must decide whether to stay quiet as her parents would expect or to speak up. As Claire deals with this trauma, Mr. Connelly comes on to Dani. How she reacts could affect her entire future, and her idolization of him makes his betrayal all the more devastating.

Yang dives with aplomb into issues of opulence and poverty, power and impotence. While it is also a story of friendship amid culture clash, Yang clearly portrays how, though progress is being made, girls and women everywhere deserve more. Main characters Claire and Dani are strong and compelling enough to take on the powers that be, and the supporting cast is fully realized. Whether it's unwanted attention from trusted teachers or lovers going too far, Yang's characters realize they will need to shift the culture to respect women as the strong, intelligent, independent beings they are. --Lynn Becker, blogger and host of Book Talk, a monthly online discussion of children's books for SCBWI.

Shelf Talker: American high schooler Dani and Chinese "parachute" Claire face similar problems regarding men, aggression and authority.